Static neutralizing device



July 27, 1937. A. N. KlMBALL 2,087,915

STATIC NEUTRALIZING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1936v 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnaw/HM Jllerb /V I1 Z'IILZXLII July 27, 193 7.

- A. N. KIMBALL STATIC NEUTRALIZING DEVICE Filed Feb. '18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 76 gwuq/wio'v 65 Aubert AlKmbaZl Patented July 27, 1937 ui'rsn sr 2,087,915

STATIC NEUTRALEZIING DEVICE Albert N. Kimball, East Walpole, Mass.

Application February 18, 1936, Serial No. 64,556

7 Claims.

My invention relates to means for removing or neutralizing static electric charges in moving sheets, such as paper, cloth, or the like.

An important object of the invention is to pro vide internal connection or connections between the wires and the bar or rod, thereby preventing short circuiting to workmen, parts of the machine, or foreign outside electrical conductors.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insulating envelope or cover for the electrical breeze producing unit, so that there is no liability of short circuiting between the electrical breeze producing elements and the workmen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a housing or casing for the electrical breeze producing unit, which housing is non-magnetic to certain types of dusts and fibers of threads or cloth running in a web or sheet beneath the neutralizing bar.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide means whereby the neutralizing bar may be installed upon the fiy delivery mechanism of a printing press and the electrical breeze producing elements arranged upon the fly sticks, for proper coaction with the sheets for neutralizing the static electricity while the sheets are upon the fly sticks.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a neutralizing device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through the device, parts broken away,

Figure 4: is a diagrammatic View showing the circuits associated with the neutralizing devices,

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of neutralizing device,

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on line 8-6 of Figure 5,

Figure l is a longitudinal section taken on line 1-! of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a further modified form of neutralizing device,

Figure 9 is a transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken through a further modified form of neutralizing device,

Figure 11 is a transverse section taken on line li-ll of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is a plan view of a fly delivery mechanism of a printing press, showing my neutralizing device applied thereto, and,

Figure 13 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through the rod and insulating guard, the inductance element being shown in elevation.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown preferred embodiments of my invention, attention being called first to Figures 1 to l, inclusive, the numeral ill designates a neutralizing rod or bar, formed of metal, such as iron. This neutralizing rod is covered by an insulating sleeve or tube ll. Electrical breeze producing elements or pins iii are attached to the rod it! and are in electrical connection therewith and pass through the insulating tube H.

The metal rod ill and insulating tube M are inserted within a longitudinal opening or passage 13, formed in a guard, shield or envelope M of insulating material, such as hard rubber, fiber, or the like. 'A downwardly flaring passage i5 is formed in the guard or shield i i, passes through one face thereof and intersects with the periphery of the opening it. The electrical breeze producing elements 52 project into the passage l5. The passage is of such a depth that the free ends of the electrical breeze producing elements i2 are spaced from the open side of the passage for a distance considerably in excess of the length of the spark which would occur on the short circuiting of the connection. This spark is approximately three-fourths of an inch or less, while the free ends of the elements l2 are preferably spaced from the open side of the passage it for one and one-half inches or more.

The cylindrical opening or passage lit, at its opposite ends, leads into cylindrical counter-bores it, having larger diameters than the opening it. These counter-bores pass through the ends of the guard or shield M, as shown. Insulating blocks H are mounted within the counter-bores l6, and are secured to the opposite ends of the neutralizing rod or bar ill by cap-screws l8. An insulated wire it is to be connected with one side or a source of high voltage alternating current,

the opposite side being grounded. This insulated wire has the insulation removed from the free end thereof for about one and one-half inches, providing a bare portion ill. The insulated wire I9 is passed through an opening 2!, formed in the insulating block IT. The bare portion 29 of the insulated wire is wrapped around the capscrew I8 and is thereby clamped in electrical engagement with the rod or bar in. A wire 22 is connected with the oposite end of the rod or bar I0 and has a portion of its insulation removed to provide a bare portion 23, passed tirough the opening l9, and electrically clamped to the bar or rod ID by the cap-screw l8. The counter-bore I6 is of such a length that the head of the capscrew I8 is spaced from the opened end of the counter-bore for something more than one and one-half inches, thus affording ample protection against sparking caused by short circuiting.

The shield or guard I4 is provided with a second longitudinal opening or passage 34, receiving a metal rod 25, which may b formed of iron or the like, and this rod is held against longitudinal displacement by insulating blocks 23, secured to the rod 25 by cap-screws 2?, or the like. The outer ends of these cap screws are spaced from the outer open ends of bores 23, receiving the insulating blocks 26, for something more than one and onehalf inches, so that there is no liability of sparking due to short circuiting with a workman or other object adjacent to the outer end of the counter-bore 23. The function of the rod 25 is to reinforce and stiffen the casing or housing l4 and to hold the same against twisting.

Reference is had particularly to Figure 4, wherein a plurality of neutralizing rods or bars i 3 are shown. The Wire 29 is connected with one side of a source of high voltage alternating cur rent. and the other side of this source of cur rent is grounded. This wire is also connected at 39 with a double throw pivoted switch element 3|, arranged to alternately engage stationary contacts 32 and 33, these elements being included in a double throw switch associated with the first neutralizing bar to the left. The contact 32 is electrically connected with the wire 3. The wire 22 of neutralizing device A is electrically connected with a stationary contact 34, to be engaged and disengaged by a swinging contact blade 34', electrically connected at 35, with a wire 35, having electrical connection at with a wire 31, in turn connected with the stationary contact 33. The swinging contact blade 34' is mechanically connected with the swinging contact blade or switch element 3| by means of an insulating link 36' pivotally connected therewith. When the contact blade 3| engages the stationary contact 32, contact blade 34' engages stationary contact 34, but when contact blade 34 engages contact 33, contact blade 34' disengages contact 34. The wire i9 of the neutralizing bar B is electrically connected with a stationary contact 31, adapted to be engaged by a swinging contact element or blade 33, permanently electrically connected with a stationary contact 39, and the contact 39 is electrically connected with the wire 35. The swinging contact blade 33 is adapted to engage the contact 31, and to also engage a stationary contact 40, connected with a wire 42. The wire 22 of the neutralizing bar B is connected with a stationary contact 43, adapted to be engaged by a swinging contact blade 43, having electrical connection at 44' with a wire 44. The wire 44 is electrically connected with the wire 42, at 45. The swinging blade 38 is mechanically connected with swinging blade 43 by means of an insulating link 43a.

When it is desired to use the neutralizing device A alone, the swinging contact 3i is brought into engagement with stationary contact 32, and

swinging contact blade 34 also engages stationary contact 34. The connection is therefore made through wire 29, swinging contact blade 3|, stationary contact 32, and through wire H! to one end of the bar ID. The swinging contact blade 38, at neutralizing device B, may now disengage both contacts 31 and 49, and swinging contact blade 43 will disengage stationary contact 43. It is thus seen that both ends of the bar H] of neutralizing device B are disengaged from wire 29. Should it be desired to connect the bar H! in advance of the neutralizing device B, with wire 29, swinging contact blade 33 would be brought into engagement with stationary contact 49, while swinging contact blade 43' would still disengage stationary contact 43. In order that any one bar ll] of the neutralizing device be rendered inactive, it is necessary for both ends to be disconnected from the wire 29. Bar H),

device B may be connected with wire 29, while bar H) of device A is disconnected therefrom. To accomplish this, the swinging contact blade 3|, device A, may be swung into engagement with stationary contact 33, whereby contact blade 3| will disengage stationary contact 32, and swinging contact blade 34 will disengage stationary contact blade 34. Swinging contact blade 38 will now be brought into engagement with stationary contact 37, while swinging contact blade 43' will engage stationary contact 43. The bar |ll of dc- 3 contact 33, wire 31, a portion of wire 35, contact 38, contact 31, wire l9, and one end of bar I9, device B. The opposite end of bar I9 is connected with the wire 44 so that the next succeeding bar It! may be connected with wire 29, if desired. The neutralizing bar it], device A, may also be connected in series with the bar ID of device B, and to accomplish this, contact blade 3| is brought into engagement with stationary contact 32, and contact blade 34 into engagement with stationary contact 34 and blade 39 engages stationary contact 31, and swing contact blade 43 engages contact 43. The connection is now made from wire 29, through swinging contact 3|, stationary contact 32, wire I9, one end of bar I9, device A, through bar l0, wire 22, stationary contact 34, contact blade 34, connection 35, wire 35, contact blade 38, contact 31, wire I9, and to bar I0, device B, and then to the succeeding bar l9, if there is one, and if it should be desired to connected the succeeding bar ID in series with bar l9. device B.

The housing I4 is supported suitably near the travelling sheets or webs of paper, cloth, or the like, by an insulating clamp, and the electrical breeze producing elements |2 will remove or neutralize the static electricity within or from the sheets.

In Figures 5 to 7, I have shown a slightly modified form of electrical breeze producing device. This device embodies a casing or housing 43, formed of insulating material, such as hard rubber, fiber, or the like. This casing or housing is equipped with the identical rod or bar I3 and associated elements, and the wires l9 and 22 are connected with the rod or bar In in the identical manner, as described in connection with Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. The housing 46 is also equipped with the identical reinforcing rod 25 and associated elements. The housing 46 has a groove 41 formed upon its lower side for receiving a key 43,

formed of insulating material, and a plurality of condensers are mounted upon this insulating key 48, including pins 49, having heads 50. These headed pins are formed of iron or the like. A plurality of the neutralizing devices shown in Figures 5, 6, and '7, may be connected in series, if desired.

In Figures 8 and 9, I have shown a still further modified form of neutralizing device. This device includes an insulating tubular guard or housing formed of rubber, fiber, or the like. This guard or housing receives and holds one of the bars ii] equipped with the insulating sleeve II, the same insulating blocks 26 and cap-screws 21 are employed to connect the wires 19 and 22 with the opposite ends of the bar H], and these connections are eiiected at a point inwardly sufiiciently from the free ends of the counter-bores 52, so that there is no liability of sparking due to short circuiting. In this form of the invention, the reinforcing rod 25 and associated elements are omitted. The insulating tube Si is provided with an exterior longitudinal groove 53, receiving an insulated key 54 within which are imbedded metal condenser elements, in the form of pins 55, having heads 55. The insulating key is held in place within the grooves 53 by rings 51, having set screws 58. It is obvious that two or more of these neutralizing devices, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, may be connected in series.

In Figures and 11, I have shown a neutralizing bar which will not become magnetic to certain types of dusts and fibers of threads and cloth, running in webs or sheets beneath the neutralizing bar. When the neutralizing bar becomes magnetic to this dust or fiber, the machines may become clogged, making shut downs necessary. I have discovered a method of overcoming this magnetic influence of the neutralizing bar and to accomplish this, I employ a second bar which does not become magnetic and this second bar, which is thus non-magnetic, is a housing or envelope for the neutralizing bar. The neutralizing bar which I employ is the same neutralizing bar ii! enclosed in the insulating sleeve or tube H and carrying the breeze producing elements or pins I2. This unit is attached to the machine and insulated therefrom in a position over the moving cloth or web by a suitable insulating clamp. Over this bar or unit I suspend the non-magnetic hollow bar or housing 59, formed of electrical insulated material, such as hard rubber, fiber or the like, and including a body portion Bil, and spaced sides 6|. This housing is held out of contact with the rod or unit Ill therein and supported by a suitable insulating clamp. The rod or unit Within the housing, being separated from the housing by a considerable amount of air, this air acts as a condenser and prevents induction in the housing, thereby rendering it non-magnetic to dust, lint, etc. At the same time the housing serves to enclose the bar Hi.

In Figure 12, is shown the fly mechanism of a printing press, which includes a rock shaft 62 and fly fingers 63. A tubular housing 64, of insulating material, such as rubber or fiber, is provided, and receives therein the rod in, having the insulating tube ll. Counter-bores 65 are provided so that the same insulating blocks IT and cap-screws i8 may be used, and so that the wire it may be connected with one end of the rod Hi. This connection is effected at a point sufficiently inwardly of the outer end of the counter-bore 55, so that sparking is eliminated. Any suitable number of small bare wires 61 pass into a condenser housing 58a, formed of insulating material, and are therein electrically connected with a pin 68, having a head t9, arranged in inductive relation to the bar iii, so that the current is induced therein. The small bare wires 6'! extend longitudinally of the fiy-sticlzs are connected therewith, disposed exteriorly thereof and terminate near the free ends of the fiy-sticks.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A static neutralizing device comprising a guard formed of insulating material and having a longitudinal opening and a longitudinal counter-bore at one end of the longitudinal opening, a metal rod held within the longitudinal opening, electrical breeze producing elements arranged in cooperative relation to the metal rod, an insulating block arranged within the longitudinal counter-bore at its inner end and having an opening, an insulated wire passed through the counter-bore and the opening in the insulating block and having a bare end portion arranged inwardly of the block for electrical connection with the adjacent end of the metal rod, and means to connect the insulating block with the metal rod, the insulating block covering the bare end portion of the wire and also serving to limit the longitudinal movement of the metal rod in one direction with relation to the guard, the length of the counter-bore being such that short circuiting at the connections with an object adjacent to the outer end of the counter-bore is eliminated.

2. A static neutralizing device comprising a guard. formed of insulating material and having a longitudinal opening and longitudinal counterbores at the opposite ends of the longitudinal opening, a metal rod held within the longitudinal opening, electrical breeze producing elements arranged in cooperative relation to the metal rod, insulating blocks arranged within the longitudinal counter-bores at their inner ends and having wire receiving openings, cap-screws connecting the insulating blocks with the opposite ends of the metal rod, and insulated wires extending through the counter-bores and the wire receiving openings and having bare portions disposed inwardly oi the insulating blocks, such bare portions being adapted to engage with the capscrews and metal rod, the length of the counterbores being such that short circuiting at the connections with the ends of the metal rod is eliminated the insulating block serving to cover the bare portions of the wires and also serving to limit the longitudinal movement of the metal rod in opposite directions with relation to the guard.

3. A static neutralizing device comprising an elongated guard formed of insulating material, said guard having a longitudinally extending opening and a longitudinally extending passage leading into the side of the opening throughout the major portion of the length of the opening, said passage having its outer side open, said guard having longitudinal counter-bores at its ends which lead to the longitudinally extending opening, electrical breeze producing elements extending into the passage, 2. metal rod held within the longitudinal opening and having the breeze producing elements attached thereto for movement therewith, insulated Wires passing through the longitudinal counter-bores and having connections with the metal rod, the length of the counter-bores being such that short circuiting at the connections with an object adjacent to the outer ends of the counter-bores is eliminated, and the passage having a depth greater than the length of the electrical breeze producing elements so that short circuiting at the electrical breeze producing elements with an object adjacent to the open side of the passage is eliminated, the arrangement being such that the metal rod and breeze producing elements may be arranged within th elongated guard by passing the metal rod longitudinally within the longitudinally extending opening, and insulating elements arranged within the longitudinal counterbores to cover the ends of the metal rod and to also limit its longitudinal movement in opposite directions with relation to the guard.

4. A static neutralizing device comprising an elongated guard formed of insulating material, said guard having a longitudinal opening extending throughout the major portion of the length of the guard, a counter-bore at the end of the opening, and a longitudinal groove extending throughout the major portion of the length of the opening, a continuous metal rod held Within the longitudinal opening and extending throughout the major portion of said opening, an insulated wire passing through the counter-bore and having connection with the metal rod, the counterbore being of a length to prevent short circuiting at the connection with an object adjacent to the outer end of the counter-bore, a continuous insulating key held within the groove and extending throughout the major portion of the length of the groove, and metal elements having heads which are imbedded within the key and arranged in inductive relation to the metal rod.

5. A static neutralizing device comprising an elongated guard formed of insulating material, said guard having a longitudinal opening and a longitudinal groove, the longitudinal opening extending throughout the major portion of the length of the elongated guard and the longitudinal groove extending throughout the major portion of the length of the longitudinal opening, a continuous metal rod held Within the longitudinal opening, an insulated wire having connection with the metal rod, an insulating key arranged within the groove extending throughout the major portion of the length of the groove, rings surrounding the guard and key, and headed metal elements imbedded within the insulating key and disposed in inductive relation to the metal rod.

6. The combination With the fly mechanism of a printing press including a rock shaft and fly fingers, of an insulating housing mounted upon the mechanism adjacent to the rock shaft, a metal rod held within the housing, an insulated wire passing into one end of the housing and having connection with the red at a point remote from the outer end of the housing so that short circuiting at the connection with an object adjacent to the outer end of the housing is eliminated, electrical breeze producing elements carried by the fly fingers, and bare wires extending between the metal rod and the breeze producing elements.

7. A static neutralizing device comprising an elongated guard formed of insulating material, said guard having a longitudinal opening extending throughout the major portion of the length of the guard, said guard having a longitudinal counter-bore at one end of the opening, the counter-bore being of a larger diameter than the opening and in communication therewith, the guard having a longitudinal groove extending throughout the major portion of its length, a continuous metal rod held within the longitudinal opening and extending throughout substantially the entire length of the opening, an insulating wire passing through the longitudinal counter-bore and having connection with one end of the metal rod, an insulating block arranged within the counter-bore and covering the adjacent end of the metal rod and attached to the metal rod and serving to limit the longitudinal movement of the metal rod in one direction with relation to the guard, the counter-hore being of a length to prevent short circuiting between the adjacent end of the metal rod and an object at the outer end of the counter-bore, a continuous insulating key held within the groove and extending throughout its entire length, and metal ele ments having heads which. are embedded within the key and arranged in inductive relation to the metal rod.

ALBERT N. KIMBALL. 

